The Nintendo Switch 2 The game presented a problem for designer and director Hideki Kamiya, who found the lack of a hardware feature to be a problem, especially when playing in undocked mode. The Nintendo Switch 2 has proven itself to be one of the most popular video game consoles around, but despite that success, it hasn't been immune to criticism, including those from within the business.
Kamiya is one such highly respected name in the gaming industry, having designed or directed some of Capcom's best games of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The plays he directed during this period include: Resident Evil 2, cried the devil, Okamiand Spectacular JoeWhile he also has original game design credits Resident Evil Zero. Since leaving Capcom in 2006, he helped found Platinum Games, where he remained until 2023, and then he founded Clovers Inc., which is working on an untitled sequel. Okami.
Hideki Kamiya suggests that all his games take place in the same universe
Game director Hideki Kamiya, the brains behind Okami and Bayonetta, confirms that all the games he's directed exist in the same universe.
Hideki Kamiya has problems with the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware
While many of Kamiya's games are available to play on Nintendo hardware, he has recently expressed some dissatisfaction with the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers, particularly feeling that the lack of a D-pad prevents him from playing many classic games. In an interview with 4Gamer, Kamiya reported that he's had a Nintendo Switch 2 since the console was first released, winning the lottery to get it on launch day, though boasted that the original model had been living with his niece since he first bought it for her. Having recently bought him a second Switch 2 and reclaiming his first, he now finds that the lack of a D-pad on the left Joy-Con is interfering with his enjoyment of games. “It didn't fit into my gaming lifestyle, where I usually play while sleeping, so I have no choice but to use the Joy-Con while playing,” he explained.
The lack of a D-pad is not a new issue for Nintendo. Released in 2017, the original Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons also lacked a D-Pad, something Kamiya also pointed out. And while players can mix and match the Switch and Switch 2 Joy-Cons on the new console, they can't physically connect the old Joy-Cons to the central unit due to their small size and lack of magnetic connectors. Alternatively, players can choose to play with a Pro Controller, although playing in undocked mode still presents a challenge with that method, or they can purchase a third-party peripheral equipped with a D-pad.
For Kamiya, this last option provided a window of opportunity to get his daily dose of games Tetris 99But some more elbow grease was needed. After purchasing a third-party peripheral for the original Switch, he said he was able to sand and modify it to work in undocked mode, though not every gamer wants to do that much work for a customizable controller experience on the Switch 2, and Kamiya seems to indicate that he had more fun building the gadget than actually using it. “However, the fact that even talking about games turned into anecdotes about crafts is perhaps evidence that I was more enthusiastic about making plastic models than games,” he said in an interview.
Despite some criticisms, the hybrid console is doing exceptionally well in the market, with millions of gamers picking one up since its release on June 5. Initial sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 hit 6 million units within the first 25 days of its release, surpassing sales of the original Nintendo Switch by more than double. As of the end of September, the most recently released official figures from Nintendo put the number of sales at 10.36 million. Nearly three months later, and with the holiday season soon upon us, total sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 could easily balloon again once Nintendo releases its next batch of numbers, though some think it could do better with the addition of the D-pad.
- brand
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Nintendo
- Original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- operating system
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Ownership
- resolve
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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yes
